Telephone-exchange system



H. P. CLAUSEN.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM.

APPLICATION FILED AUG.I, 1917.

1,337,754. Patented Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

1/71/21? for: Henry R C/ausen.

by M

' Af/y H. P. CLAUSEN.

TELEPHONE EXCHANGE SYSTEM. APPLICATION EILED AUGQI, 1917.

1,337,754; ate ted Apr. 20, 1920.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2.

QWE-

//7 l /7 for Henry F. C/au en.

y W Af/y.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY P. CLAUSE-N, OF MOUNT VERNON, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION or New-Yong. v

To all whom itmag concern: p

Be it known that I, HENRY -P. Qneusnn, a citizen of the United 'States,.res1d1ng at Mount Vernon, in the county of Vtestches-v ter. and State of New York, have invented Improvements incertain new and useful Telephone-Exchange Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to telephone exchange systems and more particularly to those in which cords and plugsare used in the connecting or link circuits.

In systems of this character it is desirable to expedite as much as may be possible the handling of connections and with th s object in view many features have been 1ntroduced in the pastwhereby the time elements of certain individual operations previously required have been reduced to a minimum or the operations have been entirely elim1- Iiated. Changes of this nature have effected a saving of the operators time, resulting in a material increase in the efficiency of the exchange systems.

If the exchange system is properly proportioned, nearly all of the connecting circuits assigned to each operator are in use during the busy periods and since the associated plugs are placed in jacks in various portions of the operators field of action, the cords connected thereto frequently be? come crossed in sucha manner as to become matted together. Under such circumstances it has been found that, due to the restraining influence exerted by the adjoining cords, the usual cord weight provided for each cord is inadequatefor the proper restoration of the cord upon the removal of the plug from the jack.

This condition has been particularly noticeable in the case of trunk positions Where TEIaEP-HONE-EXOHANGE SYSTEM.

Specification Letters Patent. P t t d A r, 20, 1920, Applicati'on flled August1 1917. SeriaI'No. 183,874.

have been emplo ed for the plugs, and cord reels and other evi ces have been utilized as substitutes for the usual cord weights, but these difficulties have not been entirely overcome by such means.

The object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement readily applicable to systems of this character, which will overcome the troubles experienced in the past, will materially reduce the time required by the operator, and one which is simple and inexpensive.

To'attain this object, in accordance with one feature of the invention, the usual cord weight provided for restoring the cords is supplemented by a power-driven cord restoring device and means provided whereby such a device is brought into service upon the manual removal or the automatic ejection of the plug from the jack and is con- "tinued in service until the plug has become seated.

This and other features, not specifically mentioned above, will more clearly appear from the following'specification and the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 represents a cord and a cord restoring device at an operators position; Fig. 2 represents a portion of a cord restoring arrangement employing a common restoring roller for a plurality of cords; and Fig. 3 represents diagrammatically a trunk circuit including a cord restoring arrangement In Fig. 1, 16 represents an ordinary cord equipped with a cord weight 56' and terminating in a suitable self ejecting plug 6, of which the shell or casing is electrically insulatedfrom the sleeve, for connection with jack 7 of a line circuit A .of the usual type. The solenoid 15 which is controlled by relays 9 and 10 and which operates a plunger 17 to force the cord 16 against a continuously revolving power driven roller 18,

forms a supplementary cordrestoring means. A key 1 controls the operation of relays 9 and 10 as well as of the plug ejecting device.

In Fig. 2, 18 is a continuously revolving roller which may be common to any number of cords and is driven by any suitable driving means 57. Cords 16, 16, 16, 16 are arranged to be individually pressed-against the roller 18 by means of the associated pulleys carried by plungers 17, 17, 17, 17 which are operated by solenoids 15, 15, 15, 15.

In Fig. 3, 0 represents a trunk circuit of a well-known type terminating at one end in a-suitable self-ejecting plug 6 of which theshell or casing is electrically insulated from the sleeve, for connection with jack 7 of a subscribers line circuit A of the usual type, and arranged at the other end, for connection with an ordinary subscribers cord circuit B (partially shown). In addition to the usual apparatus of the trunk circuit C, a supplementary cord restoring means similar to that described in connection with Fig. 1 is employed, but in this case the operation of relays 9 and 19 and of the plug-ejecting device is automatically controlled by a relay 21 instead of by a key.

.It is thought that the invention may be more clearly understood from a description of the operation of the system.

In considering Fig. 1, assume that a connection is made in the ordinary manner with subscribers line A by inserting the plug 6 in the jack 7. A circuit is then completed from battery 12, winding 11 of relay 10, winding of relay 9, contact 3 of key 1, sleeve of the cord 16, plug ejector winding and sleeve of plug 6, sleeve of jack 7 winding of cut-ofi' relay 8, to ground. Both relays 9 and 10 operate but the ejecting device of plug 6 is marginal in its operation and does not receive sufiicient current to cause its operation at this time.

Upon the completion of the conversation the subscriber on line A restores the receiver and causes the usual disconnect signal (not shown) to be displayed. Upon observing the signal the operator actuates key 1, which is of the make-before-break type, whereby contact 4 is closed before contact 3 is opened. A circuit is thereupon established from battery 5, contact 2 of key 1, sleeve of cord 16, self-ejecting device w nding and sleeve of plug 6, sleeve of jack 7, winding of relay 8, to ground. The current flowing through the ejector under such circumstances is sufficient to operate the device, whereupon the plug is ejected from the jack. Another circuit'is also formed by the operation of key 1, whereby relays 9 and 10 are retained in an operated condition, due to the substitution of grounded contact 4 for the contact 3 of key 1, which latter contact previously had been connected to ground through the sleeve of the cord 16, sleeve of plug 6, sleeve of jack 7, and winding of relay Upon the consequent restoration of key.

1, the circuit through relay 9 and winding 11 of relay 10 is opened. Relay. 10 is of the slow release type while relay 9 is adapted to release quickly. Therefore, relay 9 releases plunger 17 is projected from the solenoiduntil the pulley carried thereby presses the cord 16 against the continuously revolving roller 18, which may be provided with any suitable driving means, and which may be either common to any number of cords as shown in Fig. 201' individual for each cord. Sufficient pressure is exerted against the cord to cause it to be gripped by the roller and the plug is, therefore, drawn toward the seat with a force adequate to overcome any resistance due to matting or tangling with other cords in service at the same or adjacent positions.

Upon the plug reaching its seat a circuit is established, which may be traced from battery 12, winding 11 of relay 10, winding of relay 9, normal contact 3 of key 1, sleeve of cord 16, shell or casing of plug 6, plug seat 19 (which may be of any suitable type for providing a contact at this point), winding 20, and contact 1 10f relay 10 to ground. Relay 9 operates immediately, opening the operating circuit of solenoid 15, which, in restoring the plunger 17 and its associated roller, permits the cord to swing away from the power driven device 18. Thus the cord is left with only the usual cord weight 56 to retain the associated plug in its proper position in the seat. Relay 10 is difierentially wound so that the current will flow through winding 20 in a direction difiering from that of the current passing through winding 11 and, as a result, the energizing effect caused by the current flowing through winding 11 will be neutralized and the slow release tendency of relay 10 will be overcome to such an extent that the relay will release at once. As a result of the release of relay 10 and the consequent opening of contact 14, the circuit, by means of which relay 9 is operated, is opened and that relay is also restored to normal.

In referring to Fig. 3 it may be assumed that the trunk circuit is connected at the distant. end to an operators cord circuit B of the ordinary type. Under these conditions, in accordance with well known principles of operation, the cord supervisory signal 55 at the distant ofliceis displayed and relay 27 is operated by means of cursistance 53 to ground.

day 27, winding of relay 33, sleeve of plug 6 The operator, having been previously informed that connection with line A is desired, inserts plug 6 in the jack 7, whereupon several circuits are completed. Relay 33 operates in the usual manner over a circuit extending from battery 40; lamp 39, winding of relay 33, sleeve of plug 6, sleeve of. jack 7, and winding of cut-off relay 8 to ground. Relay 42 is then operated by means of a circuit proceeding from battery 43, winding-of relay 42, contact 49 of relay 50, contact of relay 44, contact 36 of relay 33, contact 32 of relay 27, winding of relay 33, sleeve of plug 6, sleeve of jack 7, and winding of cutoff relay 8 to ground. As will be noted, these connections in the usual manner cause guard lamp 39 to be extinguished by shunting it, disconnect the operators test circuit at relay 33, close the opening in the tip side of the trunk by means of contact 34 of relay 33, and connect an ordinary source of signaling current to the trunk at the alternate contacts of relay 42. Relays 10 and 9 are also operated by virtue of a circuit from battery 12, winding 11 of relay 10, winding of relay 9, contact 23 of relay 21, self-ejecting device and sleeve of plug 6, sleeve of jack 7 and winding of relay 8 to ground. As formerly described in connection with Fig. 1 the ejector does not receive suflicient current under these conditions to cause its operation.

When the subscriber on the line. A answers, the tripping of the signaling current is accomplished in the usual'manner and is initiated by the operation of relay 44, which;

removes the short circuit existing around relay 50, allowing it tooperate and in turn to shunt relay 42 by means of a circuit from battery 46, contact 48 and winding of relay 50, contact 36 of relay 33, contact32 of re- 7 sleeve of jack 7 and winding of cut-off relay 8 to ground. Relay 42 is thereby released, disconnecting the signaling current from the line. In the customary manner relay 41 also operates, connecting the low resistance winding 29 of the relay 27 inparallel with winding 28, which arrangement reduces the resistance sufiiciently to permit the operation of the supervisory relay 54 in the cord circuit 'at the distant oflice and thereby to extinguish the cord supervisory lamp 55.

Upon the completion of the conversation, the subscriber on the line A restores the receiver t0 the switchhook and in the usual manner relay 41 releases, removing the low resistance winding29 of relay 27 from its parallel relation with the high resistance winding 28, and thereby causing the release of relay 54 and the consequent illumination of the associated supervisory lamp 55 in the cord circuit at the distant ofiice. In response to this signal the operator at the distant oflice, disconnects the subscribers cord circuit from the trunk circuit and as a result relay 27 is released. The disconnect lamp 39 is illuminated by means of a circuit formed from battery 40, lamp 39, winding of relay 33, sleeve of plug 6, sleeve of jack 7, and winding of cut-ofl" relay 8 to ground. In releasing, contact 32, the circuit through which relay 50 was operated, and accordingly that relay is restored to normal. A circuit is formed due to the release of relay 27, extending from battery 30, contact 31 of relay 27, winding of relay 21 and contact 38 of relay 33 to ground. Relay 21 is operated thereby. I

A circuit is now established from battery 26, resistance 25, contact 24 of relay 21, plug ejector winding and sleeve of plug 6, sleeve of jack 7, winding of cut-ofl relay 8- to ground. The plug ejecting device now operates, whereupon plug 6 is automatically removed from the jack 7 Relays 9 and 10 are retained in an operated condition by virtue of a circuit extending from battery 12, winding 11 of relay 10, winding of relay 9, contact 22 of relay 21 to ground. Upon the ejection ofplug 6 relay 33 releases, and by opening the controlling circuit of relay 21 at contact 38 permits relay 21 to release. In releasing, relay21 removes the ground from the circuit through the winding of relay 9 and winding 11 of relay 10. As a result, in accordance with the operation described in connection with Fig. 1, the relay 9 releases immediately, while relay 10, being of a slowreleasing type, locks itself up through current proceeding from battery 12, winding 11 and contact 13 of relay 10, winding of the solenoid 15 and contact of relay 9 to ground. As in the case of the embodiment of the invention discussed in connection with Fig. 1, plunger 17 of the solenoid isprojected and its associated roller presses the cord 16 associated with 'plug 6 against the power driven roller (not. shown in this figure but which may be assumed as being similar to that illustrated in Fig. 1 and which may be either individual for each cord or common to several cords as shown in Fig. 2). v

The plug is then drawn to its seat, upon reaching which a circuit is established from battery 12, winding 11 of relay 10, winding of relay 9, contact 23 of relay 21. shell or casing of plug 6, plug seat 19, winding 20 of relay 10, and contact 14 of relay 10 to ground. As in the former instance, the currelay 27 opens, at

rent flowing through winding 20 neutralizes dition since the otherapparatus, not mentioned in the description because it is not essential to the proper understanding of the invention, has been released in accordance with well known methods of operation.

What is claimed is: 1. In a telephone exchange system, a plurality of lines terminating in jacks, a pluralralityof line circuits terminating in jacks,

' a plurality of link circuits terminating in cords and plugs for interconnecting said jacks, a restoring weight associated with each of said cords, a common power-driven cord restoring device, and means for se-- lectively' associating said power-driven device with one of said cords to assist said weight associated therewith in restoring said cord.

3. In a telephone exchange system, a line terminating in a jack at a central ofiice, a linkcircuit at said central office terminating in a cord and a plug for connection with said jack, means associated withsaid plug and controlled over said link circuit for ejecting said plug from said jack, means for restoring said cord, additional means associated with said link circuit and controlled by said ejecting means for assisting in the restoration of said cord, and means for disabling said additional means upon the reseating ofsaid plug.

4. In a telephone exchange system, a subscribers line terminating in a jack at one central station, a link circuit extending from a second central ofiice and terminating in a cord and a plug at the first central office for connection with said jack of said line, means associated with said link circuit controlled by the operator at the second centraloflice for automatically ejecting said plug from said jack, cord restoring means associated with said link circuit and controlled by the ejecting means for restoring said cord, and means associated with said link circuit for disabling said cord restoring means upon the restoration of said cord.

5. In a telephone-exchange system, a plurality of lines terminatin in jacks at a central oflice, a plurality of link circuits at said central oflice each terminating in a cord and a plug for connection with said jacks, a common power-driven cord restoring device, and selective means included in each of said link circuits for rendering said cord restoring device effective with respect to the cord associated with said link circuit.

6. In a telephone exchange system, a line terminating in a jack, a link circuit terminating in a cord and a plug for connection ing device, an

with said jack, a restoring weight associated w1th said cordaa power-driven cord restorpower-driven device; with said cord to assist said restoring weight in restoring said cord. 7 In a telephoneexchange system, a line means for. associating saidcircuit terminating in a jack, a link circuit I terminating in a cord and a plug for connection with said jack, a self-ejecting device associated with said plug, selectively controlled means included in said link circuit for operating said self-ejecting device, a

power driven'cord restoring means, means controlled by said selective means for rendering efl'ective said power-driven cord-restoring means upon the operation of said ejecting device, and means for rendering said power driven .restorin'g means ineifective upon the complete restoration of said cord.

8. In a telephone exchangesystem, a pluralityof lines terminating in jacks, a plurality of link circuits terminating in cords and plugs for connection'with saidjacks,

a self-ejecting device associated with each plug, means for selectively operating said' ejecting-devices, a common cord restoring device, means controlled by each of said e ecting devices for associating said restoring device with the associated cord, and

- means included in each of said link circuits terminating in a cord' and a plug for connection with said jack, a continuously revolving power-driven roller, asolenoid provided with a plunger and adapted upon the energization of its winding to project said plunger until said cord is gripped between said pulley and said roller to restore said cord, a plurality of relays arranged to cause energization of said solenoid winding upon the removal of said plug from said jack and disabling means operative upon the complete restoration of said cord to deenergize said solenoid winding and to restore said plunger.

10. In a telephone exchange system, a line terminating in a jack at ,a central ofiice, a link circuit at said central ofiice terminating in a cord and a plug for connection with said jack, a cord weight associated with said cord for restoringsaid cord, a powerdriven. cord restoring device, and means for with said link circuit and controlled by said plug disconnecting means for restoring said plu 15. In a telephone exchange system, a line circuit terminating in a jack at a central office, a link circuit at said central oflice terminating in a cord and a plug for connection with said jack, means associated With said link circuit for automatically ejecting said plug from said jack, electromagnetic means associated with said link circuit operating subsequent to and controlled by said ejecting means for restoring said cord and plug, and electromagnetic means for disabling said restoring means upon the complete restoration of said cord and plug.

13. In a telephone exchange system, a subscribers line terminating in a jack, a trunk circuit terminating at one end in a cord and a plug adapted for connection with said ack of said line, means associated with said trunk circuit for automatically ejectin said plug from said jack, said means being controlled by a connection with the other end of the trunk circuit, means associated with and operating subsequent to said ejecting means for feasibly restoring said cord and plug, and means associated with said trunk circuit for disabling said restoring means upon the restoration to normal of said cord and plug.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 30th day of July, A. D., 1917.

HENRY P. CLAUSEN. 

